Impatiens plant named Phoebis

ABSTRACT

An Impatiens plant named Phoebis having lilac bicolored flowers with a red-purple eye and radial streaking, spreading growth habit with good branching thereby making Phoebis a good plant for hanging baskets, relatively late flowering, and dark red-green foliage.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofImpatiens plant known by the cultivar name Phoebis, and botanicallyknown as Impatiens.

Phoebis was developed by applicant through a controlled breeding programin Bad Kreuznach, Federal Republic of Germany. Both the male and femaleparents are unknown at this time. Pheobis was discovered and selected asone flowering plant within the progeny of the cross by applicant in acontrolled environment in Bad Kreuznach, Federal Republic of Germany.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Phoebis was accomplished whenterminal or stem cuttings were taken from the initial selection byapplicant in a controlled environment in Bad Kreuznach, Federal Republicof Germany. Horticultural examination of selected plants of Phoebis hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor Phoebis are firmly fixed and are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Phoebis has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, soil conditions,nutrient feeding, and day length.

The following characteristics distinguish the new Impatiens from bothits parent varieties and other cultivated Impatiens of this type knownand used in the floriculture industry within the knowledge of applicant:

1. Soft lilac, bicolored flowers.

2. Dark red-green leaves which contrast well with flower color.

3. The plant flowers a little later than the early flowering cultivars.

4. The growth habit is spreading with good branching; medium height,relatively wide in proportion because of the spreading habit.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates in perspective view theoverall appearance of this cultivar, with colors being as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in a colored reproduction of this type.

The following is a detailed description of Phoebis based on plantsproduced under commercial practice in Encinitas, Calif. Unrootedcuttings were rooted in March under intermittent mist, and the plantssubsequently transplanted to 6" pots. Flowering commenced in July, and aplant nicely proportioned for a 6" pot was ready five or six weekslater. Most of the data which follows was collected between September1-5 in Encinitas, Calif. The measurements and description of foliagewere taken from fully expanded leaves.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance areused. Color chart correlations were made indoors but under natural lightconditions, with the leaves and flowers being compared to The R.H.S.Colour Chart near a west-facing window.

Parentage: Seedling from cross pollination, with both the male andfemale parents being unknown at this time.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Tip cutting. Stems 2-3 cm long will develop to 4-5 cmafter 21 days in propagation.

Time to initiate roots.--8-10 days at 73° C. Nicely developed root massin 18-21 days.

Rooting habit.--Numerous, fibrous adventitious roots from the stem.

Plant description:

Form.--Symmetrical, bush shaped, flowering herb, with self-branchingcharacteristics giving the plant a full appearance.

Habit of growth.--Vigorous, self-branching, spreading habit, producingwhorls of leaves and flowers on branched stems. Growth is indeterminateand flowering is continuous.

Foliage description.--Leaves are simple. Lower leaves on stem areopposite. Higher leaves in whorls of 5. Leaf shape: Ovate. Leaf bladesize: 8-10 cm×3-3.5 cm. Leaf margin: Ciliate and finely serrated. Leaftexture: Upper surface: glabrous. Under Surface: glabrous. Leaf color:Upper surface: Darker than 139A. Under surface: Near 187A. Venation:Pinnate with red mid-vein.

Flowering description:

Flowering habits.--Very floriferous, flowering continuously. Flowersdevelop progressively around the whorl of leaves, taking 5-7 days frombuds which show color to bloom. Flowers are single and large, lastingfor 2-3 weeks.

Natural flowering season.--Flowering is indeterminate and occursthroughout the year. Quantity of flowers increases with increasing lightintensity and duration.

Flower buds.--Ellipsoidal and covered with 3 sepals. A reddishapproximately 4 cm long spur originates from the base of the majorsepal. Two additional, rudimentary sepals are fused to back of the toppetal.

Flowers borne.--Singly, on pedicels 3 cm long, pedicels reddish incolor.

Quantity of flowers.--Floriferous. Two flowers per leaf occurringprogressively around the whorl of leaves so that tight buds to matureblooms are visible at the same time in large numbers.

Petals.--Number of petals: Five (5). Shape: Top petal heart shaped withwide base, all other petals heart shaped with pointed base. All petalsoverlap. Color: Soft lilac. Upper surface: Pink petals, lighter than 72Dwith darker lilac eye 66A radiating from center along petal mid veins.Under surface: Near 73D. Size of flowers: 5 cm.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Five (5) with the lower stamen beingshorter than the other stamens. Stamens united in an asymmetrical tubesurrounding the ovary. Anthers: Hooded, cream fused with red. Pollen:Cream color. Stigma: Five pointed star, colorless. Styles: Very short,reddish in color. Ovary: 5 celled, 4-5 mm. long until fertilized, greenin color.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant namedPhoebis, as illustrated and described, and parts thereof.